Is your family vaccinated for their next vacation?

Liz Hough on

If you have decided to travel outside of the country there are many things that you need to check-off your list to get done. Get a passport, get a visa, if needed, what do I need to pack, how will I be able to translate the language, what will I eat, and the list goes on. One thing that many people forget to do is check to see what types of vaccinations they may need to enter certain countries. 

The good news is that many European and Caribbean countries do not require a vaccination to enter the country. However, some countries require a long list of vaccinations including some that you may need multiple shots over a period of time, or they recommend that you receive the vaccination a certain number of days prior to departure. 

Now there is a difference in definition as to what the CDC “requires” for vaccinations and what they “recommend” for vaccinations when traveling to certain countries. When they use the terminology “recommend”, this generally means that they are encouraging people to get the vaccinations in helping prevent them from getting sick for those diseases.  They always recommend no matter where you travel to that you should have at least a flu shot. If they say they “require” that you get these vaccinations, this means that you may be denied entry into the country if you have not had them. Many times, when a vaccination is required it is mandated by the country you are traveling to. When you get there, customs in country will require you to show proof to get out of the airport.

So how do you know what vaccinations you will need to get for the countries you are traveling to? If you are traveling by cruise line, many times the cruise line will send you multiple email reminders as to what vaccines are required. It also should be clearly noted on your cruise line’s invoice/itinerary as to what you need. If you aren’t sure, feel free to ask your travel agent. Many times, we do have knowledge as to what you will need. However, if you have any other questions make sure to check out the CDC’s website and simply put in the country you are traveling to. 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

As always, our team of agents are here to help with any of your traveling needs.   

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

UPDATE: Attention PA Residents!

Liz Hough on

UPDATE: As of September 28, 2018, PA residents will now be able to use their current driver’s license as means of identification to board domestic flights until August 1, 2019.

 

Governor Wolf’s administration released this information…

https://www.governor.pa.gov/department-homeland-security-grants-pennsylvania-real-id-enforcement-extension/

 

As promised, Life is Better Traveling is staying on top of current events so we make sure our clients are always informed.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

Tips to Traveling Safely

Liz Hough on

Are you becoming nervous to travel?

 

Here are some tips on how to feel more confident when you travel

 

We recently had a booth at the Wine and Food festival showcasing wine-themed river cruises.  I love talking about Europe, as we have traveled to 19 countries in Europe, and I love talking about river cruising.  I was surprised at how much I ended up talking about the “fear” of travel.  With the recent events in Spain, England, and France, I had a lot of people tell me that they wouldn’t travel over there anytime soon because of “all the things that have happened.”  It is not uncommon for people to feel a bit uneasy at the thought of going to a place where something bad has happened to innocent people.   Eventually, time heals and people start to feel more confident in traveling again, but it does take time. 

 

What if you don’t have time to heal and you are traveling soon after an incident has occurred?  How do you prepare yourself mentally to travel?  Have faith, hope, and believe!  Here are some tips with helping increase your confidence to travel.

 

Tip #1:  Lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place.  This is also typically true when it comes to attacks.  Once a city or area has been attacked, a large amount of security surrounds that area to make sure it is secure.  It becomes very difficult for anybody to try anything suspicious because everyone is on edge and quickly responds by contacting the appropriate authorities.   This is typically the best time to travel to these places because you have added security, and you get to experience a city or area come together like they have never done before.

 

 

Tip #2:  Set up private tours and transfers.  With a private tour or transfer, you have less people to worry about if something goes wrong.  You have your own personal concierge or chauffeur that can get you away from the area quickly and safely, rather than having to worry about a large group of people all trying to get on a large motorcoach.   Private tours also take you behind the scenes of some places so your guides will know the in’s and out’s of the place. 

 

Tip #3:  Each day make sure you have your smart devices fully charged.  Information is key!  If you are feeling unsafe, then you need to be connected to the world to find out what news outlets or bloggers are saying is going on where you are.  Also make sure you have data and voice plans available for your phone.

 

Tip #4:  Be open minded about changing your travel plans.  If you feel so uneasy or find out information that makes you more concerned about the area you are in, then try to change up your destinations.  Make sure to have your travel consultant’s information on hand and give them call to make a reservation at a hotel in another city or country and arrange a private transfer.  Yes, it is going to cost more money to change your plans, but hopefully you will feel much more relaxed.

 

 

Tip #5:  Be aware of your surroundings.  This sounds like something you know you should be doing but it easy to forget where you when you are walking around an amazing place.  Knowing where you are and making sure you understand where to go in case you have to get somewhere quickly, is key!  Every day, when you plan out where you are going, make sure you know exactly how to get back to your hotel or the US Embassy quickly.  Like James Bond, have an escape route.

 

Traveling is a part of life for everyone.  Whether you go a museum on the weekend or travel abroad to visit 1000 year old sites, it is part of who we are.  The best way to protect ourselves and make ourselves feel more confident about travel is to be prepared.  If you have trip coming up, consider trying out some of these tips to help make you feel more at ease so you enjoy your time traveling.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

What would you do?

Liz Hough on

If You Lose Your Passport Abroad, Would You Know What To Do?

These Six Steps will Save you Time and Energy…

 

I recently read an article about a woman who lost her passport while she was traveling overseas.  She was frantic, and didn’t know what to do besides go to the closet U.S. Embassy to get a new passport.  When she got there they asked her if she had a list of things that they need to get the process started for a new passport but she didn’t.  She spent several hours acquiring the things on the list before she went back to the embassy.  Once everything was submitted to the embassy, it still took time to get the passport prolonging her trip. 

 

Even though most of us think that a scenario like this won’t happen to us, the truth is we need to prepared when it does.  So for your next trip abroad, even to Canada, here is what you need to do if your passport was lost or stolen. 

 

Step 1.  Get another passport photo taken right away.  You will need a passport photo for the embassy to issue you a replacement passport so get that first. 

 

Step 2. You are going to need identification, evidence of proof of U.S. Citizenship, and your travel itinerary.  The best way to have all of this is to make COLOR copies of all these things before you travel abroad, and place copies in your suitcases or other bags that you are taking with you.  An easy way to have an electronic version would be to scan in your passport and email it to yourself.  Having copies of these will really be handy.  If you don’t have copies, make sure that someone you trust from home can get access to them to fax them to the appropriate embassy. 

 

Step 3.  Try to access a passport application (DS-11 Application for Passport), and the statement form for Lost or Stolen Passports (DS-64 Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport ).  Having these printed out and already filled in will help you get through the process faster. 

 

Step 4. If you have filed a police report with the local authorities, make sure to bring a copy of the police report with you.

 

Step 5.  Head to the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate that can help you get your replacement passport issued.  If you aren’t sure where it is, someone within the U.S. can call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C, at 1-888-407-4747, and they will be able to locate the nearest one for you. 

 

Step 6.  Pay the fees associated with getting a replacement passport, however, applicants who are unable to pay the fee will be asked to provide names of persons they feel would be able to assist them financially if there is sufficient time.

 

Once you have been issued a replacement passport the passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children.  If you were issued a limited-validity, emergency passport due to urgent travel plans to allow you to return to the U.S. or continue on your trip, once you return home, you can turn in your emergency passport and receive a full-validity passport.  Most embassies and consulates do not issue passports on weekends or holiday that they are closed.  If it is a life or death emergency they do have after hours duty officers available to assist you in any way that they can. 

 

For your next vacation abroad, make sure to make color copies of all of your identification and give copies to friends and/or family here in the U.S. that you trust.  If you have a travel agent who is available, please give them the information also.  I always advise my client’s to send me a color copy of their passport so I can easily email and/or fax it out quickly. 

Safe Travels!

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Airlines are upset.

Liz Hough on

New Changes in Favor of the Consumer?
Find out what 3 changes are coming your way next time you fly…

 

If you have been following the news this past week, then you may have heard that congress has passed some air travel legislation that will help the consumer, but may upset the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

 

The lengthy lines to get through security at the airport have been felt across the nation, and by those in the House and Senate too.  The new bill wants to offer several ways to expedite the screening process including keeping the PreCheck screening lines open and available during peak and high-volume travel times, especially at the airports who see a huge volume of travelers. When the PreCheck lines are closed, there must be a way to expedited the screening process using “every practicable effort.”  What is the definition of “every practicable effort?”  Only time will tell.  The bill is also requiring that TSA increase the number of people enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program by making it more available for people to enroll.  This could be done through Kiosks, mobile devices, and/or other mobile platforms. 

 

Have you ever had your luggage lost or delayed by the airline and didn’t receive your luggage fee back?  Well, that will now be a fight with the airline that you will no longer have to undergo.  If the airline does not deliver your luggage to you within 12 hours after arrival of your domestic flight or 15 hours after your international flight, the airline will be forced to quickly and automatically refund you “any ancillary fees” you paid for your checked luggage. 

For those who have family members under the age of 13, this next portion of the bill that has passed is a huge win.  Children under the age of 13 are “to be seated in a seat adjacent to the seat of an accompanying family member over the age of 13” at NO Additional Ancillary Fees!  These ancillary fees are usually in the form of a seat selection reservation fees including, choosing a window or aisle seat.

 

Here is a website that shows some of the fees for seat reservations for each airline: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/4564745/chart-what-it-costs-to-select-your-seat-location.html.  The caveat is that this only applies to economy or coach class seats.  If a family would like to upgrade to economy plus, business, or first class additional fees would be applied.  This rule will probably upset the airlines the most as this will take away from their billions of dollars they earn each year on seat reservation fees.  However, it has been a problem with the airlines not accommodating keeping families seated together when they travel.  As a parent, it is a very scary thought that my child would be sitting next to a stranger while I am on the same flight. 

 

Over the next couple of months, I hope that we see these changes and they make our lives simpler for when we travel by air.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

Is convenience always better?

Liz Hough on

When you travel you always try to make it convenient for yourself.  Some of the things that I have purchased over the years to make travel convenient include a blow up neck pillow, a blow up cushioned seat, smart tablets, versatile clothing, RFID blocking purse, belt with hidden compartment for money and credit cards, foldable shoes, various pieces of luggage and bags, etc.  Some of these items were amazing and others were a complete waste of money.   Now that I have two little kids to travel with, traveling seems like a huge task!  Anything I can do to make it more convenient on myself and my husband, I will pay for it!

 

If you have or had little ones, you remember how getting through an airport, an amusement park, or even getting on a bus at Disney was a difficult task but the one thing that you bring for convenience is a stroller.  Nowadays, there are some many strollers on the market and when you find that one you like, you take it everywhere with you including anywhere you travel.  The problem with most strollers are that they are beasts!  Even folded over they are bulky and weigh over 20 pounds.  Now, if you have ever been to Disney then you know that the buses to take you to and from your resort are crowded with people, but most of the space taken up is by strollers.  Those people with older children are the envy of the bus, and those of us with our beast of a stroller just give each other the sympathy nod.  Same holds true when you are folding the beast at the end of the runway before getting on a plane. 

 

Well, lucky for us we are at that stage with our kids where they don’t really need a stroller, but it is still a good idea to bring one along, especially for the toddler who likes to run away from us in the busy airport.  With so many trips coming up this year I didn’t want to buy another stroller, but our umbrella stroller broke on our last trip.  Out to the baby store we went, looking to pick up another umbrella stroller but instead we were intrigued by a new stroller on the market.  Weighing in at 9 pounds and folding up to the size of large book, how could I not resist checking out this stroller. I had a huge smile on face at the thought of how this would make my life so convenient on our upcoming trips!

 

The lady at the store, Kathy who needs to be mentioned for having such patience, got out the box from the storage area in the back.  Excited to see the product first hand as she had only seen the video of how to use, she came down the aisle with a huge smile on her face.  The box for the stroller was the same size of the box that my laptop computer came in.  All excited, we started to gather a crowd of employees who also wanted to see the world’s smallest folded stroller.  Kathy opens the box that says no assembly required, and takes it out of the bag.  As she says watch this, she tries to open it as she had seen in the video, nothing happens.  She tries again, and nothing.  Another employee takes the stroller and tries to open it, nothing.  At this point, we have about 8 employees and 3 customers all around this book size, folded up stroller and none of us can figure out how to open it.  My excitement for a stroller with such convenience has turned into frustration and concern about whether I would be able to figure out how to fold this stroller quickly.  After losing several employees, the original Kathy, myself, my husband, and two other employees had figured it out after 25 minutes!  Even though we watched the video several times, it took us 25 minutes to figure it out.  After getting it open, I was disappointed by the lack of a sun screen/visor to protect a child and the stability of the stroller.  I also did not like that the seat did not recline for the child.    If you are interested in finding out which stroller I am talking about I have conveniently hyperlinked the video.  You will be impressed, just like I was. Click Here for Video

 

I am impressed by this stroller company in general.  They have several one touch foldable, light-weight strollers.  We did purchase the stroller called the Qbit and it folds up small enough to go into bag that is provided by the company, and is around 15 pounds.  Both kids have found it very comfortable to be in and me and my husband have found it very easy and convenient for all of our travel needs.  I look forward to using it in a few weeks on our next trip.  In the meantime, I am definitely going to be using it around town to check out the stability. 

 

 

 

So next time you go to purchase that travel gadget that you will think will make your life so much more convenient, weigh the options, definitely try it out, and check for durability.  If it breaks during your trip, then it won’t be so convenient.

 

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

A amazing article I had to share.

Liz Hough on

When you find something that resonates with you, you just have to share it!

 

Find out why I had to share this article….

 

My heart goes out to the small country of Belgium where their trusting and easy going nature, was taken advantage during the attack back in 2016.  When we had an attack on our own country almost 18 years ago, we were probably in the same place, trusting and easy going.  We have adapted to understanding that even though the world is a large place, we must now be suspicious and ask questions of all activities that make us uneasy.  However, it doesn’t stop us from traveling!  Taking the children to Disney World, driving to Colonial Williamsburg, shopping in Manhattan for a long weekend, or even taking that Caribbean cruise.  We have learned that if we want to do or see anything, we have to adapt and turn that fear into confidence that if something were to happen, you would be able to stand up against it. 

 

I recently read an article by a travel journalist named Wendy Perrin who wrote about why we shouldn’t fear traveling after an attack and the likelihood of becoming a statistic of a terrorist attack.  She called it 7 Keys to Traveling Without Fear Despite Terrorist Attacks.  I wanted to share this article because it was so well written and empowering that I hope it makes you feel the way I did after reading it, ready to TRAVEL. 

 

Here is an intro to Wendy Perrin’s article:

 

1. Grasp how minuscule the statistical probability is of getting caught in a terrorist attack abroad.

 

According to the U.S. State Department, the number of U.S. citizens killed overseas by incidents of terrorism from 2001 to 2013 was 350.  If you’re thinking home is safer, compare that number with the 3,030 killed in the U.S. by terrorism during the same period.  More recently, of the 132 lives lost in the Paris attacks, only one was an American; and of the 15 people killed by attacks in Istanbul this year, two were of dual U.S.-Israeli nationality. In terms of street crime and gun violence, most of the U.S. cities we live in are statistically more dangerous than the places we visit abroad.  Your risk of being killed in a car crash (one in 19,000), drowning in your bathtub (one in 800,000), or being struck by lightning (one in 5.5 million) far exceed your risk of dying from terrorism (one in 20 million).

 

2. Don’t confuse the probability of a terrorist attack with the probability of becoming the victim of a terrorist attack.

 

Is it virtually certain that there will be another terrorist attack in Europe in the next 12 months? Yes. Does that translate into a high degree of risk for the individual traveler to Europe? No.

 

 

Click here to read the entire article

 

 

NOTE:  I am not endorsing Ms. Wendy Perrin, nor am I taking any credit for her article.  She is a travel journalist who wrote an amazing article that I wanted to share with all of my friends on my Newsletter.

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Free Wi-Fi, how to get it when traveling!

Liz Hough on

Are you paying for Wi-Fi when you travel?

How to get Free Wi-Fi…

 

Is Free Wi-Fi important in your hotel stay decision?  I recently read an article about how having free Wi-Fi in your hotel is becoming an increasing popular demand among guests.  Surprisingly, it is not just the millennials who are demanding it but Generation Xer’s and Baby Boomers.  I have to be honest, as I am very connected to my email, internet surfing, Facebook, Twitter, and text messages as it is all right on my phone.  I try to do everything over a Wi-Fi connection so I can keep my data usage down for the month and I get faster downloads.  But I do find every time I stay at a hotel that download speeds are much slower and I am constantly having to sign into the Wi-Fi connection only to be kicked out a minute later.  I can see how easily one can become frustrated and if I were at any of these hotels for a week and needed to do business, I would be very frustrated.

 

So how about hotels where you have to pay for the Wi-Fi?  I have paid for Wi-Fi once when I was at a travel conference and it was very expensive for a day’s use.  I have to admit though that I did have faster speeds compared to when I have used free hotel Wi-Fi.  I think this is why more people are willing to pay for their Wi-Fi upfront in packages that the hotel offers when booking your stay with them.  Yes, I said it.  Hotels are offering packages that includes the room and Wi-Fi use in the pricing.  A packaged deal that more and more people are wanting to buy upfront because it is cheaper to buy it as a package then get to the hotel and pay per day.  Some hotels have a pricing chart for you next to the bed along with the card that says “our company is green and saving water….”.   

Some places want to charge you as much as the cost of a steak dinner just for a one-day use! 

So how do you get around paying extra for Wi-Fi at a hotel?  Find a Panera or local café close to your hotel that provides free Wi-Fi.  Head over there for a cup of tea or coffee and take an hour or two to get some work done or surf the internet.  Also, look for hotels that provide free Wi-Fi.  When you go to book a hotel, check the amenities section of the that specific hotel.  In this section they will tell you if free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel, in their café area, or just in the rooms.  When the hotel has specific areas that it provides Wi-Fi they will typically provide you with a password or passcode to login.  Some hotels will give free Wi-Fi to their rewards members, so consider joining some of these programs, especially if they are free to join. 

 

When it comes to Wi-Fi on your next cruise, I would skip paying for it.  Several cruise lines now offer internet minute packages that can be purchased prior to your cruise.  Packages are anywhere from one dollar per minute to five dollars per minute, which means for 60 minutes of internet you can pay up to $300.  Download times are painfully slow and by the time you get the pages you need you have used up your allotted minutes.  If you must do work, consider not taking an excursion and head to a local café that provides free Wi-Fi.  You may want to just forget work all together, after all you are on a cruise!

Here are some tips to remember about Wi-Fi on your next vacation:

 

1.Check the hotel or resort amenities section before booking to find out if they provide free Wi-Fi and where in the hotel/resort they provide it.

 

2. If your hotel or resort doesn’t provide, look for local Panera’s or cafes that provide free Wi-Fi beforehand. 

 

3.Compare internet package pricing vs. internet day pricing.  If you are at a conference and need internet, then consider a package if it is much cheaper.

 

4. Skip the internet packages on your next cruise.  Slow download times leads to frustration and no work done.

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

 

I love this travel gadget! Find out why….

Liz Hough on

By the end of this article you will want a portable charger,

here is why…

 

If a store has a travel section, you will find me in it.  Usually in the luggage section there is a small kiosk of travel gadgets.  This is the section where I rummage through what new device or gadget is going to make it easier for me to travel.  Some work, and some are complete failures.  I always have to share with you the ones that I absolutely love and do make it easier for me to travel.  So here is my latest favorite travel gadget find….the portable smart device charger!

 

If you already have one of these portable charges then you know how much easier your life is when your phone is on its last bar of battery.  You plug in your phone and go.  Your phone is charging while you are shopping, sitting in the airport, or even on the plane.  It is that easy.  No more stalking for an outlet at the airport to charge your phone, smart device, or even laptop.  Portable chargers are the best thing to have with you no matter where you are traveling to and everyday life. 

Most portable chargers are the size of a wallet or a small tube that easily fits into your back pocket or even your smallest purse.  Depending on the manufacturer of the charger you can choose from various colors or patterns.  The best part of portable charges is that they are compatible with most smart devices because they have a USB port so you can take any charger that has a USB adapter and plug it into the charger and charge your device.  Some chargers have enough power to charge your phone to 100% then you will have to recharge it, but some haven enough power to charge a phone and a tablet in one charge. 

 

Even though I said this is my latest travel gadget find, I really bought one last Christmas in the travel section at Marshalls.  When I brought it home, my husband rolled his eyes at me and said you really can plug your phone in anywhere we go.  Yes, this is true.  You can plug your phone in anywhere you go, but you are tied down to where it is plugged in.  On our trip in April, I thought to myself that I am going to bring it along, just in case.  Sometimes, when my phone is roaming for a long period of time it drains my battery faster than it takes time to charge it.  So as we are walking around the Bahamas, I hear that dreaded, Beep, Beep.  Yup, my phone only had 10% battery life left so I plugged it into my portable charge, put it in my purse and did some sight-seeing.  After an hour, I was up to 80% battery life and the portable charger still had three out of four bars left of battery life.  My husband couldn’t believe it.  Needless to say, anytime we go to an amusement park, museum, or any day trip my husband asks me if I have the portable charger with us.  It really is so convenient and easy to use, and its size makes it so easy to take with you.

 

So next time you are in the store, check out the travel section and see what gadgets will make your life easier to travel.  If you have one you like or love, feel free to email us back and let us know what your favorite ones are so we can share with everyone.

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Has TSA searched your luggage lately?

Liz Hough on

Has your checked luggage ever been searched by TSA?

Mine has, and now I have a whole new perspective on how to protect myself.

 

After returning home from my last flight trip I opened my luggage to a friendly letter saying that my suitcase was searched by TSA.  I was part of the random search of suitcases that TSA does on those bags that get checked and placed under the airplane.  I have to say this was the first time that my suitcase was searched and I kind of wonder if it was because of all the baby stuff I packed in there.  Baby bottles, food, and cereal probably do look suspicious in an x-ray machine.

 

After reading several articles and seeing several news outlets talking about TSA agents getting fired for stealing people’s items from their suitcases, I was a bit concerned that something was missing.  After a thorough inspection of my suitcase I was thankful that everything was there.  But this experience had me thinking not just about these corrupt TSA agents but those swipe your suitcase at the luggage carousel.  The luggage carousels are very easy to get to and people don’t need a plane ticket to get in this area.  They just come in right off the street, take a bag, and get back in their car or go to the bathroom and rummage through the suitcase.  I read about one guy who took five suitcases in one day!  This is a bit scary.

 

So how do you make sure that your suitcase isn’t one of the unlucky ones to get inspected by TSA or swiped off the luggage carousel?  Unfortunately, nothing is 100% full proof but here are some tips on how to make sure you don’t lose any valuable stuff.

 

Tip #1:  Don’t pack anything valuable in the suitcase you are going to check.  You can purchase a piece of carry-on luggage surprisingly large enough to fit a lot of your valuable stuff.  What is valuable to you is relative, but for most people it is their electronics, jewelry, souvenirs, camera, wallet or anything they feel personally connected to. 

 

Tip #2:  Buy a luggage lock.  Don’t buy the cheapest lock on the market.  There are a lot of TSA approved locks available at department stores, Amazon, etc.  These locks allow TSA to easily open the lock without having to know your combination.  If you don’t have a TSA approved lock and they want to inspect your bag, they will just cut it off.  Now you don’t have a lock for your luggage for the rest of your trip.  Having a lock does not deter TSA from inspecting your bag, as it happened to me.  However, it will deter someone from swiping your bag.  Think of the guy who took the bags into the bathroom.  Do you think he was going to cut locks off of bags while people were coming in and out?  Probably not, he was targeting bags he could easily open. 

 

Tip #3:  Black, black, black!  Orange is the new black!  Having a black suitcase has some advantages like you don’t see all the scuff marks from rough handling but everyone has one.  When you’re watching suitcases come off the carousel and you see a black one you automatically think it is yours and then it’s not.  Black is so common that it is easy to mistake or swipe.  Think of poor Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents.  Even the airline mistook his BLACK suitcase and when his future father in law went through his bag he found some “interesting stuff” it lead to some embarrassing moments.  Go out of the norm and pick a color that will stand out.  This way you can easily spot it coming off the carousel or even worse, someone walking away with it.

 

Tip #4:  I am not going to advocate trip insurance now, but if you have purchased it they give you identification tags to put into your luggage.  This tag is usually printed out from your own computer or your travel agent should be providing it to you, but place this in your luggage.  This tag has your information on it so that if your luggage gets lost or swiped and someone finds it, they know how to reach you through your insurance company.  This also helps the airline if they lose your luggage. 

 

Tip #5:  Luggage tags.  There are so many luggage tags on the market today.  Bright colors, fancy logos, various shapes, large and small, etc.  I highly recommend also putting a luggage tag on your suitcase that will help you spot it.  I give all of my clients luggage spotters to put on their suitcases.  It wraps around the handle, is padded, and they can put their information on the inside.  I usually place their extra trip insurance card in the sleeve just in case.  Try to get something sturdy as your bags does get thrown around a lot on its way to and from the airplane.  I have lost many luggage tags in my day.

 

Having TSA search your luggage can happen to anyone but you can avoid them taking anything of value from you.

 

Fill out the form below to get started planning your next European Vacation.  Looking for a motor coach tour, self-drive, or private tour, we can easily put together the perfect European vacation for you and your family’s needs. 

When you book your vacation with a member of the Life is Better Traveling Team, you are supporting local families and business.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 4 years, we have become an AMAZING travel agency due to your support!

Please understand we get several requests per day for European vacations. We provide experiences for our clients that provide a lot of value. If you are looking for a budget vacation, that is NOT us.

Verified by MonsterInsights